Fan Mail From Some Flounder

Folks, tonight’s FM will be rather short due to a rather busy day and the fact that I already posted an entry tonight.

Nekomieu says “I was wondering, is there any plans of release those jobs that didn’t make it in final release eventually?” Jobs, we don’t need no stinkin’ jobs! This game is supposed to be about fun, not work. Oh, you meant careers? I do hope so!

RomanStoic says “Mark, you sound like a fun, sensible and straight-talking guy — precisely the rare type of boss one would be glad to work for.” Oh, I have my share of not-fun, angry and loud-talking guy moments but I try to keep those down to a minimum.

Brian says “Any chance in the future of you guys doing another fps-esque game like those?” I’d love to. Magestorm – Rebirth sounds good to me.

Yunk says “I will ask what’s on everyone’s mind: What kind of noodles do you enjoy?” I don’t think I’ve had a noodle dish that I haven’t liked.

Hepahestus says “How do you feel about the way GOA is handling European players? They are trying hard, they really are but I know that’s not good enough. Trying != Doing I know but I think that they will do better as time goes by.

Owenlars says “what are your thoughts on more social features in order to enable the players to feel like they have a place in the game. Im talking player housing, player created content, being able to actually BUILD things like keeps (dig, gather, build, finish).” Love it. We had housing in DAoC and I would love to have some system like that in WAR at some point.

Evalissa says “Be seeing ya” Oh god, what’s my number I’ve forgotten it. Should I be looking around for some men dressed in black?

Don says “Thought I would give you a heads up. There is a massive, growing need for MMO gamers. It’s called a Sandbox game. If you read messages boards such as the one on mmorpg.com you will see that a growing number of players don’t want character levels, they want skills. Players want a lot of things but in the end what most of them want is simply great games whether they are skills or levels. Sadly we don’t have enough of them.

Since Ultima Online, there still have not been a proper true sandbox games other than a few. I know for a fact, if done right, it can be successful. And who other than Mark Jacobs to do it in the future?” Oh, just about any other great, talented, smart, funny, amazing and humble guy! Seriously though I would love to see a great sandbox game hopefully someone will build one soon.

Andreiv says “I also agree with a previous comment. Perhaps you could take the idea that Blizzard has with Blizzcon and do something similar for Mythic / WAR / DAoC out here on the east coast! The DC or Baltimore region would be an excellent spot!” Oh, you mean like the Round Tables we’ve been running for DAoC like forever? Hey, and guess what, we’ve had them in Virginia!

John says “I would really LOVE it if you could just talk about UO for a few minutes. What do you think of the game? What are your expectations? Where would you like to see it go?I feel like since Mythic took over UO there hasn’t been any kind of top-down communication coming from you. The Mythic site doesn’t mention UO. The new accounting system doesn’t include UO.” That’s a fair point. In terms of the accounting system we wanted to get it incorporated but it turned out that doing so was nightmarish. In terms of UO’s future, well, once we get past WAR’s launch we’ll be able to spend more time looking at both UO and DAoC.

Cedia says “Will you be adding some nice fluffy stuff that is meaningless to the HARDCORES for us?” Nope, no pillows and fluffy bunnies in WAR but we’ll see what we can do to make more interesting things for the non-hardcore RvR players post-launch.

Amantia says “ToA was really beautiful in a lot of ways. Swimming underwater, being carried off by a harpy during ML2, being changed into a mummy in ML5, the lava in Volcanus, the Phoenix, the armor and weapon designs, etc. were amazing. It was just too buggy, too difficult to meet all the requirements for getting MLs and leveling artifacts, and the abilities gained were too powerful. It’s really kind of tragic that it was so flawed.” Yeap, I agree. The problem with ToA was in its execution not in its concept and design. And I’m not saying this because ToA was my concept, it wasn’t.

Biggrich76 says “Long time DAoC player and fan. I know this has been covered before but I would like to know if there is any chance of DAoC 2 seeing the light of day if WAR is a success?” Ever, like in the rest of human history? A lot does depend on both WAR’s success and our long-term relationship with GW. I love the Warhammer IP and I’d love for us to keep WAR running longer than DAoC but that is not totally up to me as in any case in which there is a license. I love DAoC, it was my baby and the game that put Mythic on the map but making a DAoC 2 to compete with WAR doesn’t make a lot of sense in the short-term especially when there are lots of other interesting ideas out there.

So, sorry for the shortened section, time for me to watch the Yankees probably lose to the Angels (ain’t DVRs great?).

Mark

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“Love it. We had housing in DAoC and I would love to have some system like that in WAR at some point.”

You guys would be smart adding in housing. I mean since WAR emphasizes on making your character unique, I don’t see why you wouldn’t, and DAoC’s system was just fine for a housing system. And make sure it’s a free expansion like DAoC’s too!

“Don says “Thought I would give you a heads up. There is a massive, growing need for MMO gamers. It’s called a Sandbox game. If you read messages boards such as the one on mmorpg.com you will see that a growing number of players don’t want character levels, they want skills. Players want a lot of things but in the end what most of them want is simply great games whether they are skills or levels. Sadly we don’t have enough of them.”

I was once a supporter of the Sandbox idea a while back, but one thing you really didn’t mention Mark was the fact that really it is too much of a risk to make a Sandbox game, especially when the large majority of MMORPGers out there play level-based MMOs.

And concerning a DAoC 2, I was actually going to ask that but I’m glad you answered the question. It’s really a hope for all us old DAoC fans more than anything. I mean I remember back when Star Wars Galaxies changed right before the classes were implemented, the Bioware Star Wars MMO rumor just started. And now look, it’s becoming more of a reality. So who knows, maybe we can see a DAoC 2. Or an entire new graphics engine for DAoC, like what you guys did with UO.

The official thread where GOA reps post progress has not seen a single post today (or anywhere else on any other Fansite).

The Offical thread is now tagged with the metatags “Epic Fail” and “GOA – Group of Amateurs”.

If you Google “WAR Beta” – the first page contains nothing but “EPIC FAIL” references.

The CEO promised that communication would improve.

SHE LIED

The official posts are worded so badly they are inflaming the situation even more than Ian managed yesterday and not fewer than 5 professional PR people have now posted offering their advice or services to GOA on how to run PR properly as it is becoming obvious to everyone they just have no clue.

I too would love the idea of player/guild housing and other social elements, The way DAOC did it was very nice, and the only think i’d change would be replacing the bucolic environment with a new districts of the capitals. Even better if it becomes part of the capital sieges. Being able to burn down to cinder the enemy’s houses? Yes please :D, possibly giving them a chance to defend, making it so that when the capital is conquered the housing zones become a contested RvR area.
Another quite important, even if very simple “social thing”, would be the ability to sit. It’s kinda weird to be standing every time 😀 Emotes in general seem a bit of a weakness of the game (an d no, we don’t want dancing :P)

The open beta (the US one at least) is going remarkably smooth, probably heralding for a very solid launch of the game. My only gripe remains the very limited draw distance availavle even with custom settings. It really takes away from the charm (which is great) of the settings and standing on the docks in altdorf and not being able to see the other side is kinda weird… Also the way things “appear” as you get near, doesn’t look good good, they basically “pop” in from nowhere. Is there any plan to increase the draw distance further at least with custom settings for release? In an earlier phase of the beta the draw distance was remarkably longer, and it looked spectacular.

last question: during build 3.3 high elves had facial scars (and missing eyes) as a customization option. I have to say that they looked awesome. In 4.1 that disappeared. What is the reasoning behind that choice? Will we see it back in release?

Great stuff as always! I am waiting for the direct brain interface for gaming. I was watching Strange Days (1995) this weekend and was wondering if we will ever refine that type of technology to that point. The implications in the gaming industry would be amazing and of course all the other possible uses as well but who cares about those.

Funny though, that movie was set in 1999, I think it is hilarious to watch moves that are “Short Term” future sci fi and then watch them a decade after they were supposedly set in and laugh.

Mark, how do you think open RvR will affect new players? And will there be no provisions on getting back to the lower teirs at higher ranks to complete ToK quests of achievements (you know it’s the the silly little things that keep some people interested

Mark, This is my first shot at any of your games.Sure i have leared over a shoulder or two but to sit behind a mythic game and be in the driver seat a first. And i have to tell you, its a great game. Once the bugs get ironed out solid contender to the throne. I really can sing praises about the game all day long. The Crafting missed the mark but thats my opinion. It just doesnt seem like that you put the amount of effort and love into it as you did everything else. I understand that you threw that one in there to ease the masses(i assume) who strive to do something on the down time other then to run around like a nameless hyper active Creative Directors.(who by the way was the real person who made me so excited this game) Other then that, Mark Thanks! For a game that brings people like me and my friends (who are now not only scattered across the country but the world…..I have sent a set of beta keys to a army man in afghanistan) and play something we are all excited about it.

I’m sure you’re aware that some fans really like to start at the beginning and take vacation time to coincide with launch. The announcement of headstart dates less than five days before CE and less than a week before SE makes things tough for people who tried to schedule around it, especially when the SE date is different from the earlier-announced EU one.

Was this late announcement due to data gathered during PW+ about advancement rates? If not, I really can’t see any reason for it to be announced so late.

Just curious, how’s the relationship with Games Workshop going right now just before release? Do you see any changes a year down the track? I for one am a HUGE GW fan so being able to get the collector’s edition with an awesome looking miniture was great marketing idea. I hope to see more WAR -> GW minis.

Keep up the awesome work with WAR (and this blog) and don’t burn yourself out